THE Philippines, through the Department of Health (DOH), has received more than 390,000 doses of bivalent vaccines courtesy of the government of Lithuania.
Said vaccines arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 3 on the evening of June 3.
Negotiation for the vaccines started as early as August 2022 and was finally offered by the Lithuanian government in January 2023. Until then, the Philippine government, with the support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., expedited the processes and issuance of permits for the arrival of the vaccines.
“It is with great pleasure that we have received such generous donations from the Lithuanian government, and our sincerest gratitude to our partner agencies for being one with the DOH in seeing that within our reach is a bountiful future—one that is most achievable starting with ensuring that we have sufficient protection against the Covid-19 virus,” the Health Department’s officer in charge Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said.
“To every eligible Juan and Juana, we urge everyone to get the opportunity to gain longer and stronger protection by getting vaccinated against [the coronavirus]. Together, let us move toward a healthier Pilipinas,” Singh-Vergeire added.
Present during the turn-over of the vaccines were Honorary Consul Julia Netta Vildzius Peña of the Republic of Lithuania and Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Ana-Isabel Sanchez-Ruiz from the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, while among the DOH officials were Assistant Secretary Dr. Leonita Gorgolon of the Management Services Team.
Also in attendance from the national government included representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bureau of Customs.
Image credits: Department of Health